The AI cost war has begun

The AI race is no longer only about who has the smartest model.
It is increasingly about who can deploy intelligence at the lowest cost.
Chinese AI models are now processing massive token volume while offering prices far below premium US models.
If a model is good enough and 10 to 15 times cheaper, startups and enterprises will notice.
Lower inference costs mean more AI features, faster experimentation, and more always-on workflows.
The next AI winners may be the builders who understand cost curves before everyone else.